Aubrey de Vere, Earl of Essex

Ian Ruff

Coat of arms: Azure, a boar argent

Surcoat Color: Blue

Email: EarlEssexBarony@gmail.com

Aubrey de Vere, Earl of Essex, born in 1171, was a distinguished military leader, skilled strategist, and a prominent nobleman whose legacy was shaped by his military service and stewardship of his lands. He first rose to prominence during the Third Crusade (1189–1192), where he fought alongside Richard the Lionheart. Aubrey earned a reputation as a shrewd and cautious commander, preferring strategic planning over reckless aggression. His experience in the Holy Land would influence his later approach to warfare, favoring diplomacy and calculated decisions.

Upon his return to England, Aubrey succeeded to the Earl of Essex after the death of his father. As a steward, he ensured the prosperity of his lands and the well-being of his subjects, gaining a reputation for fairness and effective governance. His holdings were considerable, and he worked to maintain stability and security in a time of frequent conflict. 

In 1195, Aubrey married Angeline L'Aigle, strengthening his position through the powerful Norman family connections this alliance provided. The L'Aigles were influential in both Normandy and England, and through his marriage, Aubrey solidified his ties to a network of influential Anglo-Norman nobility, further enhancing his stature in the kingdom.

Aubrey’s loyalty to the crown began to waver during the reign of King John, especially following John’s disastrous loss of Normandy in 1204. King John’s increasingly autocratic rule and the heavy taxation placed on the barons led to growing dissatisfaction. By 1215, as tensions reached the boiling point, Aubrey de Vere joined the rebel barons in open defiance of the king. He was a key figure in the Magna Carta rebellion.

Throughout the conflict, Aubrey demonstrated both military leadership and cautious pragmatism. His son, Sir Oliver de Vere, fought alongside him in the First Barons’ War (1215–1217), further solidifying the de Vere family’s commitment to the cause of baronial reform. Aubrey and his son played crucial roles in the rebellion, with Aubrey’s seasoned leadership guiding their forces.